 Teaching English in Japan, the Salary and Budget Guide The following guide will help you answer the question, How much can I earn and save while teaching English in Japan? You will also find information on the local cost of living in order to figure out how much to budget for when moving to Japan The typical salary for English teachers in Japan Japan has been a popular destination for teaching English as a foreign language for decades With the government-funded teacher placement program called JET, there are a lot of options for English teachers to find a suitable position all over the country The cost of living in Japan has increased significantly in recent years which means it is no longer the top destination for saving large amounts of money in Asia However, Japan still has plenty to offer both new and experienced teachers As a guide, you should expect to earn somewhere between 200,000 and 600,000 yen, currently $2,000 to $6,000 US per month If the job pays by the hour then a figure of around 2,500 yen, $25 US per hour would be typical The salary also depends on where you are located in Japan The highest salaries are paid in the big cities, especially Tokyo, but the cost of living there is also the highest There are many smaller cities and towns all across Japan looking for TEFL qualified teachers where the salary is competitive and the cost of living not as high as in the capital Other benefits to expect when teaching English in Japan Besides the salary, most teachers in Japan also receive free housing or a housing allowance from their employer Additionally, most schools pay for the round-trip airfare for their teachers and healthcare is also very affordable There is also usually a contract completion bonus offered How to earn extra cash while teaching English in Japan One popular option for teachers looking to top up their earnings is to take on private students in their free time Most private lessons are around 3,000 yen, $30 per hour, which can go a long way to making your stay in Japan even more comfortable The cost of living in Japan According to the latest statistics from Ex-Patterson, Tokyo is the third most expensive city to live in Asia after Hong Kong and Singapore However, the competitive salary and attractive benefits as an EFL teacher in Japan still allow you to live comfortably Below, we break down the cost of living in Japan for individual aspects Cost of living in Japan Food Shopping at local markets and eating at local restaurants drastically reduces your expenses and also gives you a deeper insight into local culture and the Japanese way of life Milk 1.0 186.53 yen Eggs 12 226.87 yen Apples 1 kg 814.00 yen Chicken breast 1 kg 797.50 yen Rice 1 kg 558.33 yen Bottle of water 1.5 L 122.58 yen Bottle of Japanese beer 0.5 L 301.29 yen Cost of living in Japan Leisure activities Japanese people love going out with friends and family to have a good time Whether it's eating out at a good restaurant, singing their soul out at Karaoke, or going to a club in the city, Japan's leisure activities have something for everyone 3-course mid-range restaurant dinner 5000.00 yen Quick restaurant meal of rice or ramen 1000.00 yen 1-month fitness club membership 9842.11 yen Tennis court rent 1 hour on weekend 2421.43 yen Movie ticket International release 1800.00 yen Cost of living in Japan Transportation Japan is known all over the world for its modern and efficient public transit network The Bimesa Zenith Subways in the cities are fast and reliable and the bullet trains are among the fastest in the whole world, connecting the cities of the country with one another Metro ride 200 yen Taxi rate per km 410 yen Start fare 475 yen City bus 200 yen Monthly bus in Subway Pass 10,000 yen In Subway Pass 10,000.00 yen Cost of living in Japan Travel in Japan and beyond Japan is an incredible island nation with lots of things to see and do in your free time The bullet trains are incredibly fast and affordable and domestic flights to other parts of the country are also quite cheap Plus, you can visit neighboring Asian countries like South Korea and China in just a couple of hours One night in a mid-range hotel 15,000 yen High speed train Tokyo to Osaka 2.5 hours 18,000 yen Slow train Tokyo to Osaka 3.5 hours 15,000 yen Flight Tokyo to Okinawa 2.5 hours 12,700 yen Flight Tokyo to Seoul 2 hours 7,200 yen Sample monthly teacher budget To give you an example of how an English teacher in Japan spends their salary, here is a sample monthly budget Gross income Salary Average salary 280,000 yen Rent Zero Paid for by employer Utilities Electricity Gas Water 22,500 yen Phone and Internet 4,700 yen Food 25,000 yen Insurance 3,000 yen Remaining disposable income 224,800 yen APROX $2,000 United States Dollars How much you can save when teaching English in Japan? As you can see from the sample budget above, the competitive salaries in Japan allow you to save quite a lot of money during the length of your contract Because rent is often paid for by the employer, you will be able to save money that would otherwise go on housing Depending on your lifestyle, ESL teachers in Japan are easily able to save anything from $500 to $1,000 per month Are you ready to teach English in Japan? The best possible start to your teaching career in Japan, why not take our in-class TEFL certification course in Tokyo? You can also get more information about living and teaching English in Japan via our Japan country page Apply now for your TEFL TESOL certification course and start teaching in a matter of months Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad Send us an email or call us toll-free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today